Scale-balancing device.



C. A. VIDINGHOFP.

SCALE BALANCING DEVICE.

- lAPPLICATION IILBD SEPT. 25, 1911.

` 'Patented Feb. 27,1912.

CHARLES A. VIDINGHOFF, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK. v

SCALE-BALANCING DEVICE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application led September 25, 1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

Serial No. 651,041.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Vnune- HoFr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and -useful Improvements inv Scale-Balancing Devices, of whiehthe following is a speci 'fcation g i This invention relates to a balancing devicewhich is more particularly designed Jfor that class of scalesin which a vertically vibrating beam is employed. Heretofore the balance balls in scales of this type have usually been mounted upon a horizontal externally screw threaded rod which was carried by the beam and engaged its thread with an internally screw threaded opening in the balance ball so that upon turning the ball in one direction or the ot-her its position lengthwise of the beam 'could be shifted toproperly balance the scale be fore the same wasput into use. The objection to this manner of mounting the balance ball on the beam is that it frequently fitted quite loosely on the ball rod so that it. could be turned readily by hand or would be turned by the vibration of the scale, the ball being shifted in the last mentioned manner owing to the ball being out of true. In this prior construction therefore the accuracy of the scale was often disturbed and Ait f also afforded easy opportunity for deliberately throwing the scale out of balance by persons intending to Weigh fraudulently.

It isthe object of this invention to provide a scale balancing device of this char-- acter in which the bala-nce ball cannot be.

easily shifted by hand nor by the vibra.- tions of the scale but which necessitates the use of some tool so that after being set the same will reliably and securely hold the balance ball in position. and therebypre.

` serve the accuracy of the scale.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is aside elevation showing-one form of my improved scale balancing device applied to a scale having a single beam. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, showing my improved balancing device applied .to the heel of the l scale beam. IFig. 3ds an end elevation of the balancing device detachedfrom the beam. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical cross sections in the correspondingly numbered lines. 1n Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side 55 elevation of a scale beam equipped with a slightly modified form of scale balancing device embodying my invention.

Similar characters of reference indicate .corresponding-parts throughout the several VIEVS.

Although my invention is represented in the drawings as applied to a scale having but one beam it is obviously applicable to scales having a plurality of beams.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, l represents a scale beam which is suspended by an upper beam loop4 2 from the usual beam hook and connected by a lower beam loo 3 with the beam rods which connect witii 70 the levers as is usual inthe construction 'of scales of this type. 4 represents the horizontally slidable ppise mounted on the front part of the scale beam. At its rear end or heel the scale beam has secured thereto an upright supporting bracket or bar 5 the connection between t-he beam and bracket being preferably so constructed as to permit this bracket to be adjusted vertically on the beam. The preferred means for effecting this adjustment shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and o of the drawings comprise t-Wo tap bolts or screws 6 secured to the'heel end Of the beam and extending through a vertical slot f 7 in the lower part of the bracket, but any 85 other suitable means may be used for this purpose it desired. 8 represents a ball rod which in the construction shown in Figs.' l and 2 is of tubular form and arranged horizontally vabove the heel of thescale beam and arranged at its rear end in a horizontal opening in the up er. parte of the bracket. On one side, pre erably the lowersidc, the ball rod is provided with a lodgitudinal slotI 9`wl'1ich preferably stops short 95 of the ends of the same. At its front end- 'the ball rod may, if desired, be closed,the

mea-ns for this purpose shown in Fig. 2 consisting of a plu 10 which may be secured in thev front end ofv thev ballA rod 'either by 100 means of a friction, or-driving fit, or vany other suitable way.

Within the ball rod is arranged an adjusting shaft 11. which's journaled-a-t Its rear end Within the rear end of the bore of the tubular ball rod While its front. end is although any other suitable form will an.

swer the purpose. The adjusting screw is capable of turning in the ball rod but is in- `capable of moving lengthwise in the-same,

the means whereby this is accomplishedconsisting preferably of a circumferential groove 12 formed in the periphery of the adjustingscrew at the rear end thereof vand a locking pin 13 passing tangentially through the rear part of the ball rod and projecting through one side of the, groove 12. This pin also extends through openings in the adjacent part of the bracket whereby this pin connects the bracket ball rodand adjusting screwand at the same time prevents longitudinal movement of the adjusting' screw but permits rotary movement thereof. Any suitable means may be provided for turning the adjusting screw, for instance, a slot or nick 14 arranged cross'- wise in the outer or rearend of the adjusting vscrew and adapted `to receive the end of a screw driver or similar tool for turning the same.

15 represents a balance ball which is capable of sliding lengthwise on the exterior of the ball rod for the purpose of balancing the scale. This ball may be of any suitable shape and the same is mounted upon the ball rodby providing theball with a h'orizontal cylindrical opening which receives the front part of the ball rod.

In its'lower part' the balance ball is provided with Va radial opening 16 which is transversely in line with the slot of the ball rod andris preferably of cylindricalform. Within this opening is arranged the outer cylindrical enlarged part 17 of a key, the inner contracted part 18 of which projects upwardly throu h the Alongitudinal slot in the underside o `the ball rod and is provided at its upper end with one or more sectional or partial screw threads 19 forming in effect a section of a screw nut.r This sectional screw thread of the key engages with the underside of the screw/ thread `0n the adjacent part of the adjusting screw, the key being held in its operative position within the opening of the balance-ball by means of friction, or by means of a screw 25 working in a threaded opening in the.

lengthwise of the screw thereby causing the balance ball to slide lengthwise on the ball rod. After the. balance ball is adjusted to .the desired position the same will not be disturbed by any vibrations of the scale nor can the same be shifted readily excepting by the use of' tools adapted 'to tit the special construction of the rear end of the adjusting screw.

By carrying the ke of the balance ball through the slot of tlie ball rod and providin a screw connection between the same and t e adjusting screw, this key serves the double purpose of operatively connectingl the balance ball with the adjusting screw so that the rotary movement of the latter shifts the ball lengthwise of the balance rod, while at the same time the key working in the longitudinal slot of the ball rod prevents the ball from turning on the rod.

l Itwill thus be apparent that my improved construction of scale balancing device prevent-s easy tampering with'the accuracy of the scale as well as accident-al displacement thereof4 as is possible in thescale balancing devices as heretofore constructed.

In the modified construction of the scale balancing device the ball rod 20 is mounted at both ends on the scale beam by means of two brackets 21, 22, the balance ball 23 mounted on the ball .rod between the brack ets, and the adjusting screw is provided at one end with a knurled thumb piece or button 24 for manipulating this screw.

I claim as my invention:

1. A scale comprising a beam, a tubular ball rod mounted onthe beam and provided with a longitudinal slot, a balance ball slid able lengthwise on the exterior o f lsaid rod, a movable-shifting member arranged within said rod, and' means connectingsaid shift-ing member vand balance ball and arranged within said slot.

2. A scale comprising a beam, a tubular ball rod mounted horizontall on the beam and provided with a'longit-udlnal slot, a balance ball slidable lengthwise on the. exterior of the rod, a screw arran ed on the interior 'of the rod and capable o turning but held' against moving lengthwise, and a 4key arranged in said slot and connected with said. ball and provided V.with `a screw thread which engages with the 4threads j of said .j

Screw.

3.` A 'scale comprising aV beam, a tubular 'ance ball slidable lengthwise on the exterior ball rod mounted horizontally on the beam i of the rod andprovided with a laterally7 extending opening transversely in line wit the slot ofthe ball rod, a screw arranged lengthwise onthe interior ofsaidrodand capable of turning but; incavlpnblegofq l. ,I

" threadof said screw.

Witness my hand this 22nd day ofv 'September, 1911. 1

CHARLES Witnesses "THEO, 'L. Por?, ANNA HEIGIS.

A. VIDINGHOFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

` Washington, D. G. i 

